Longquan

Longquan is a city in Zhejiang.

Get in

Thanks to a good transport system, Longquan is relatively easy to get to. From Shanghai there are two options. Firstly there is a bus that leaves once a day from Shanghai South long distance bus station. The trip costs around ¥250 and takes 6-7 hours. If you really don't like transferring then this is the option for you as it goes straight there. Secondly, and more popular, is taking the high speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway station to Lishui and then getting a bus to Longquan. The train takes between 2.5 to 3 hours to Lishui and then the bus take 1.5 hours to Longquan. There are quite a few train departures each day and numerous buses between Lishui and Longquan.

Buy

Longquan celadon (龙泉青瓷) is a celadon-glazed porcelain made in Longquan and nearby areas. It has been in production since the Song dynasty, over a thousand years.

Longquan has been a center of sword manufacturing since several hundred BCE. The techniques spread from here to the rest of China and later to Japan.

Eat

Longquan has many places to eat where you can get anything from a chicken burger to duck's tongue! For Western tastes there is a KFC, Bobi's pizza (an east meets west fusion restaurant which has the best pizza in town) and a Chinese chain called Ba Bai Li (八百里) which is pretty much a cheaper KFC. The two nicest bakery chains in the city are Shinians and A'Paris. Both offer delicious baked goods at reasonable prices. If you find yourself near the north-east of town Cake Town is also worth a quick visit. The Chinese offerings are too numerous to mention but suffice it to say you definitely won't go hungry.